Improvement in guitar-heads



H. w. WHITE;

l Guitar-Heads. n Nol55,352. n `Pmemedsepr.22,1874.

LTNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

HIRAM W. WHITE, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN GUITAR-HEADS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 155,352, dated September 22, 1374 5 application tiled May 1,1874.v

To alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HTEAM W. WHITE, of Anderson, in the county ot Madison and State of Indiana, have invented an Improvement in Guitars and other stringed instruments, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to an improved means for adjusting the strings on the tuning apparatus of a stringed instrument. My device consists in a hollow spindle turned by a rod fitted to slide within it. To this rod is attached theordinaryworm-wheel,havingaknob with which to pull the said worm-wheel out of mesh or gear with the screw-key.

Any one who has played on the guitar, or other stringed instrument provided with screwkeys for tine adjustment, knows the amount ot' time that is occupied in taking up the slack in placing a string on the timing apparatus. My device overcomes this difliculty, as I adjust the spindle directly, (instead of indirectly, as has been the custom heretofore,)and as rapidly as required.

Figure l is a horizontal view, partly in section, of my improvedl key-plate. Fig. 2 is a side view on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, partly in section. Fig. 3 is an inside view on the line 3 3, Fig. 1.

A represents an ordinary head-plate, on which the apparatus employed for adjusting the strings ot' a guitar or other instrument of like make is arranged. B represents a milled knob or head, attached to the wormwheel b by any suitable means, being employed to draw the same out ot' mesh with the screwkey G. D represents a hollow spindle on which the string is wound, having perforations d d for the reception of the ends of the string preparatory to winding. This hol low spindle D is grooved at end, and is inserted in a bearing, a, of the plate A. E represents a sliding rod attached with the wormwheel b to the knob B. This rodv E is out away at e to allow it limited play longitudinally ot' the spindle past the pintle p. This pintle 19 is inserted transversely of the hollow spindle D, and across the face ot' the cut c ot' the rod E, and prevents the latter from turning in the former. c2 is a boss which prevents the rod E from being drawn out past the pintle p, and is formed by the cut e.

In use, one end of the string having been securely fastened by any suitable means to the heel-piece ofthe instrument, the other end is passed through the perforation d into the hollow spindle D and out through the other perforation, d. The knob B is then pulled, drawing the worm-wheel b out of mesh and the boss e2 against the portion ot the string within the spindle, thereby clamping the string between the boss and pintle p. The spindle is then rotated by the knob B until the slack ofthe string is taken up. The rotating mechanism is then pushed back, thus bringing the Worln-wheel b into mesh again'with the screw key C. The screw-key C is next turned until the string is brought into tune. For releasing the string the knob B is drawn. out and rotated in opposite direction until the string is unwound, when, the rod being pushed back a little, the end ot' the string will be released.

The invention is applicable to guitars, violins,violoncellos, bass-viols, and other stringed instruments of analogous construction.

The following is claimed as new:

The hollow spindle D, sliding rod E, knob B, and worm-wheel b,.in combination with the screw-key C, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

` HIRAM W. WHITE. Witnesses:

D. B. J AeKsoN,

I. W. WEsTERErELD. 

